DELANO — Authorities have identified two suspects in the stabbing death of an inmate at Kern Valley State Prison on Friday.

Artemio Gomez, 40, was attacked at around 8:15 a.m., according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Guards quickly used “chemical agents” to break up the attack but Gomez received several stab wounds and died at a hospital, the department said.

Two inmate-made weapons were recovered.

Dead Inmate, Suspects Have Violent Pasts

The suspected attackers were identified as Marcos Lomeli and Alberto Mejia, authorities said.

Lomeli, 37, of Los Angeles County, was serving life without the possibility of parole for murder and carjacking. He also has convictions for assault with a deadly weapon while in prison and making or possessing a deadly weapon while behind bars.

Mejia, 27, of Los Angeles County, was serving life with a chance of parole for second-degree murder and other crimes. He also was convicted of several assaults with deadly weapons while in prison.

Gomez was admitted from Orange County in 2002. He was serving more than 29 years for carjacking, robbery, and sex with a victim under age 18. He also had convictions for battery and drug possession in prison.